cheap multi agent path planning algorithms

Question

I am trying to make a tower defence game where some critters are trying to make their ways through a 2D grid-like obstacle course. The idea is these critters cannot walk into the obstacles or into each other during their path, and they would like to get to the other side as soon as possible.

I just need a cheap, not-optimal solution that can path all the agents from one side of the map to another, moving in the grid (up-down-left-right) directions while not walking into each other nor into the obstacles.

I am not wanting an optimal solution, just one that looks reasonably greedily optimal would be nice (i.e. not like not moving the 2nd agent without completing the path on the first agent, etc).

I'm thinking about something with potential fields with a little bit of A* is as much as I am willing to compute. If there's anything simple to implement I'd be happy to know ! !